Anatomy
Textbook female
Textbook male
What do you mean, it doesn't all look like that?
Textbook Female
This isn't actually what all female-assigned genitals look like. This grouping of genitals includes different sizes and shapes of every aspect of the vulva. The reason for the use of these images we all remember from Health classes past is because they're the simplest way to explain the anatomy. No matter what size things are, or the exact configuration, the language used for the anatomy is (basically) the same. The external female genitalia is called the vulva, not vagina.
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Textbook Male
This isn't actually what all male-assigned genitals look like. This grouping of genitals includes different sizes, shapes, curves, you name it. The reason for the use of these images we all remember from Health classes past is because they're the simplest way to explain the anatomy. Even when something is a different size, or the urethral opening isn't at the tip of the penis, the language used for the anatomy is (basically) the same.
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What Do You Mean It Doesn't All Look Like That?
There are a lot of reasons why genitals don't look like the diagrams. The most important thing to remember is that genitals, like faces, and personalities, and fingerprints, are unique to each individual. There is no such thing as standard genitalia.
There are also millions of intersex individuals in the world who have what is sometimes called "ambiguous genitalia," which means that doctors weren't sure at birth whether these individuals would be assigned male or female. No one within PSE is educated enough on issues of intersexuality for there to be detailed information here, but we know to send you to the Intersex Society of North America.
There's also anatomy that is different because of taking hormone therapy, such as is the case with medically transitioning transgender people. Anatomy terms are medically the same for transitioning individuals in the medical community, but just like everyone else, people have different names and terms they use for their individual genitals. Transitioning individuals' genitals are important to understand for those who are going to be involved with them. The only way to understand a person's genitals are to talk to them, particularly listen to them, and to (SAFELY and with consent) experiment with them.
People transitioning from female to male have a lot of body changes on testosterone. Fat redistributes itself to other areas of the body, there is increased hair growth, the voice lowers, hairline recedes (hopefully slightly), and skin toughens. The changes in skin and identifying with one's body more will likely change erogenous zones on a person on testosterone. The genitals specifically also change, with the clitoris (more likely called something else such as, "dick" or "cock") enlarging and becoming somewhat less sensitive (from skin changes).
People transitioning from male to female have a lot of body changes on estrogen and progesterin. Fat redistributes itself to other areas of the body, there is a change in hair texture, skin softens, breasts grow; all of which can affect erogenous zones. The genitals specifically also change, with the penis (more likely called a large clit, organic strap-on, or "outie vagina" [as an 8 year old MTF called it]) becoming smaller. ------
Some of the people reading this may be asking what genitals other than the kinds you've seen might look like. Well, that's not something you'll find here, or almost anywhere else. Because of the diversity of genitals combined with the medical community's reliance on the two "textbook" references we've provided on other pages, and the stigma that has been wrongly placed on genitals that vary too far from the "textbook" medically and, by extention, socially, it would be disrespectful to present any images of any genitals on this page. Trust us, if you need to know about someone's genitals, ze (he/she) will tell you.
Written by Umass Boy '07, Images by Gwen Reichert '07
Last Updated: 3-24-06
